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Abstract

Infrared measurements in the 8–14-μm spectral region were made of two coal-fired power plant plumes and area haze in the Four Corners region of New Mexico from 1 to 7 Nov. 1980. The layer transmittance, optical depth, and volume extinction coefficient derived from measurements on four nonconsecutive days show the effects of the plumes on the IR optical properties of the atmosphere. The average contribution of the plume alone to the IR extinction coefficient was 74% at the Four Corners plant; the background haze contributed 7–11%. More efficient particulate emission control at the San Juan power plant reduced the average contribution of its plume to 57% of the extinction coefficient. The haze contributed an average of 16%. The results show an increase with time of the haze bulk extinction coefficient during a persistent anticyclonic synoptic situation. Extinction coefficients of the haze showed a linearity with particulate loading, which led to estimates of IR volume extinctions of the free troposphere from aerosol measurements.

References

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a Cube root of the third moment about the mean divided by the standard deviation.b Deduced by integrating the mass spectra derived from the number spectra by replacing in the gamma distribution dN(r)/d logr = A·rα exp(−βrγ)A by 4πρA/3 and α by α + 3. The bulk density ρ of the particles is 2 g cm−3.

Table III

Particulate Mass Loadings and Infrared 8–14-μm Extinction Within and Outside Plumes In the Four Corner Region.

Particulate mass loading (μg m−3)

Infrared extinction (km−1)

Four Corners

35,311.3 ± 1882.7

0.4099 ± 0.0593

San Juan generating station plume

4410.2

0.1776 ± 0.0286

Haze

283.6 ± 142.3

0.0511 ± 0.014

Table IV

Measured Particulate Loadings in the Atmosphere In the Four Corner Region as Functions of Altitude and Correspondent Infrared Extinction

Altitude (m) MSL

Particulate loading (μg m−3)

Infrared (8–14 μm) extinction (km−1)

2135

91.0 ± 186.4

0.0164

2440

16.4 ± 8.8

0.00295

2745

14.9 ± 13.6

0.0027

3050

20.1 ± 17.8

0.0036

3350

5.1

0.00092

3660

4.4

0.00079

Tables (4)

Table I

Infrared (8–14-μm) Optical Properties of the Atmosphere in the Vicinity of Power Plant Operations

Location/date

Transmittance

Optical depth

Extinction coeff. (km−1)

Percent

San Juan Power plant 1/11/80

Haze + plume

0.91

0.09

0.20

71

Haze

0.98

0.02

0.04

15

Plume

0.93

0.07

0.16

56

H2O + CO2

0.96

0.04

0.08

29

Total

0.88

0.13

0.28

100

Four Corners power plant 4/11/80

Haze + plume

0.79

0.24

0.40

81

Haze

0.98

0.02

0.04

7

Plume

0.81

0.22

0.36

74

H2O + CO2

0.94

0.05

0.09

19

Total

0.75

0.29

0.50

100

Four Corners power plant 6/11/80

Haze + plume

0.83

0.19

0.52

85

Haze

0.98

0.02

0.07

11

Plume

0.85

0.17

0.45

74

H2O + CO2

0.97

0.04

0.10

15

Total

0.80

0.23

0.62

100

San Juan power plant 7/11/80

Haze + plume

0.90

0.10

0.26

75

Haze

0.98

0.02

0.06

17

Plume

0.92

0.08

0.20

58

H2O + CO2

0.97

0.04

0.09

25

Total

0.87

0.14

0.34

100

Table II

Statistics of Aerosol Spectra from Within and Outside the Plume of the San Juan Generating Station near Farmington, N.M.

a Cube root of the third moment about the mean divided by the standard deviation.b Deduced by integrating the mass spectra derived from the number spectra by replacing in the gamma distribution dN(r)/d logr = A·rα exp(−βrγ)A by 4πρA/3 and α by α + 3. The bulk density ρ of the particles is 2 g cm−3.

Table III

Particulate Mass Loadings and Infrared 8–14-μm Extinction Within and Outside Plumes In the Four Corner Region.

Particulate mass loading (μg m−3)

Infrared extinction (km−1)

Four Corners

35,311.3 ± 1882.7

0.4099 ± 0.0593

San Juan generating station plume

4410.2

0.1776 ± 0.0286

Haze

283.6 ± 142.3

0.0511 ± 0.014

Table IV

Measured Particulate Loadings in the Atmosphere In the Four Corner Region as Functions of Altitude and Correspondent Infrared Extinction